Carnival is finally heading to Africa, and that alone makes this one of the more interesting new itineraries the line has rolled out in a while.
Passengers will finally be able to discover new destinations and ports that aren’t very popular but certainly have plenty of interesting things to offer.
It won’t be a full-around-Africa kind of voyage, but it is Carnival’s first-ever set of calls on the African continent, and for a lot of cruisers that is a pretty big deal.
Let’s take a look at all the fascinating things you need to know about this new itinerary.
1. This is Carnival’s first-ever cruise to Africa
Carnival announced that Carnival Sunshine will make the cruise line’s first visits to African ports during its 2027 Europe season.
The two African calls named in the rollout are La Goulette, Tunisia, and Tangier, Morocco.
So yes, this is new territory for Carnival, not just another Med itinerary with a fancier name slapped on it.
2. The ship is Carnival Sunshine
The ship doing these sailings is Carnival Sunshine, a Sunshine-class ship that carries about 3,002 guests at double occupancy and has 1,150 crew members.
That matters because this is not one of Carnival’s newest Excel-class ships, so anyone booking should go in expecting a ship with plenty to do, but not the exact same giant-ship experience as Mardi Gras, Celebration, or Jubilee.
It’s a cruise you’d choose more for the ports of call than for the ship itself.
3. “Africa” really means North Africa, at least for now
This is probably the biggest thing cruisers need to understand right away.
The new Africa sailings are not going deep into the continent.
Carnival’s first Africa calls are in Tunisia and Morocco, so this is really a Mediterranean and North African blend.
Still exciting, obviously. Based on customer feedback, there may be new destinations on the continent in the future.
4. Most of these cruises sail from Barcelona or Rome
From late May through October 2027, Carnival Sunshine will run a series of Mediterranean and North African cruises with departures from Barcelona and Civitavecchia, the port for Rome.
Carnival said the season includes 15 Europe sailings total, with 10 departures from Barcelona, 4 from Civitavecchia, and 1 from Dover.
That setup actually makes these trips more realistic for cruisers who want to add a few hotel nights before or after the cruise.
Europe departures can be a hassle sometimes, but Barcelona especially tends to be a pretty easy and popular embarkation city.
Just make sure to have a look at the 10 mistakes you should avoid if you stay at a hotel before your cruise.
5. There is more than one Africa itinerary
This is not just one sailing. Carnival has already listed multiple Sunshine itineraries that include an African port.
For example, there is an 8-day Mediterranean from Barcelona that calls at La Goulette, a 10-day Mediterranean from Barcelona that also includes La Goulette, and a 14-night transatlantic from Port Canaveral to Barcelona that stops in Tangier, Morocco.
6. One of the most unusual sailings is the solar eclipse cruise
Carnival is also offering a special solar eclipse cruise departing July 25, 2027, and it includes La Goulette, Tunisia as part of the itinerary.
The cruise is positioned for optimal viewing of the August 2, 2027 solar eclipse, and Carnival says it will feature themed programming onboard.
So for cruisers who love doing something different, this one has a strong bucket-list feel to it.
7. These itineraries mix Africa with a lot of classic Mediterranean ports
Another thing to know, as we were seeing previously, is that the Africa stops are part of broader Europe itineraries, not standalone Africa-heavy sailings.
Depending on the cruise, guests may also visit places like Palermo, Naples, Malta, Ajaccio, Marseille, Alicante, and Malaga.
That can actually be a plus. European ports generally have a lot to offer, especially in terms of history, art, and nature.
8. Tangier and La Goulette are very different stops
Even though both are part of Carnival’s Africa debut, they offer pretty different vibes.
Tangier is the Moroccan call, and Carnival’s excursion listings already show options built around the Kasbah, Medina, Kasbah Museum, and Saint Andrew’s Church.
La Goulette is the port for Tunis, and Carnival uses it as the gateway to that area on several itineraries.
So these are two distinct ports with their own culture, history, and shore-day feel.
9. Documentation is going to matter more than usual
This is one of those boring details that becomes very important if it goes wrong.
Carnival says guests are responsible for having the proper travel documentation for their cruise, and anyone traveling without it can be denied boarding with no refund or replacement cruise.
On an itinerary that touches multiple countries in Europe and North Africa, this becomes extra important.
Passport validity, visa rules, and entry requirements can vary based on nationality, so this is absolutely not the cruise to leave paperwork until the last minute.
Remember to have a look at the list of 7 things you should always verify before your check-In.
10. The onboard experience will still feel very Carnival
Even with the Africa angle, this is still a Carnival cruise at heart.
Carnival highlights venues and attractions on Sunshine such as Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi, WaterWorks, SportSquare, Playlist Productions, and Cloud 9 Spa.
So the destination side may feel more unusual than what Carnival fans are used to, but onboard it should still deliver that familiar mix of casual fun, comfort food, pool time, and lively entertainment.
That is probably part of the appeal, honestly. New ports, familiar cruise line.
In case you missed it, Carnival has also announced new adults-only cruises. You can find all the details by clicking here.
